As one of the seven villages of Barnstable, Centerville is known mostly for its beaches, its homes and its small business district. It may be small in size, but the village certainly makes up for that in terms of its friendly appeal.

Originally known as Chequaquet, or pleasant harbor, the Village of Centerville is home to one of the largest freshwater lakes on Cape Cod. Lake Wequaquet stretches more than 650-acres, with its seven-mile shoreline dotted by hundreds of single-family homes.

While the residents-only lake is fun for kayaking, boating and canoeing, Centerville also provides a handful of other beaches for outdoor fun. From popular Covell Beach to Long Beach and Craigville Beach, Centerville provides the perfect location for

If you’re looking for a great small-town setting, there’s yet another reason to consider putting down roots in Barnstable. This small New England town consistently ranks as one of the happiest towns in America.

One of the latest rankings comes from Top Counseling Schools, which matches up students with great options in colleges and universities. The Cape Cod town ranked number 11 on its list of the 20 happiest small towns.

Barnstable grabbed the number two spot behind Naples when it comes to locations with the highest social well-being. The town performed especially well in terms of local restaurants and outdoor activities. The list also took into consideration the employment rate, local income, and the poverty rate.

The ranking is right in

While Cape Cod’s known for its beautiful beaches and waterfront possibilities, some of its inland sites may prove just as enticing. Locals know that some of the best swimming, kayaking and fishing is possible on one of the many kettle ponds that dot the area.

Made up of a total of three interconnected ponds, Indian Ponds in Marstons Mills is an especially popular location for boating, fishing and swimming all year long. A joining of Mystic Lake, Middle Pond and Hamblin Pond, the freshwater kettle ponds have been a part of the local community for generations.

Located in the west Barnstable village of Marstons Mills, each pond measures more than 100-acres in size. You’ll also find a nice selection of unique, waterfront homes surrounding the

Blending the natural beauty of Cape Cod with the appeal of a small town setting, Osterville Village presents the enjoyment of seaside elegance. Right on Nantucket Sound, the village is a prime location for fun on the beach or on the water.

Popular during the summer months, it’s common to find out-of-towners with second homes in Osterville. There are also two private country clubs in the village, each with its own golf course, tennis courts and private beach. In addition, you’ll find several oceanfront estates and historic homes dotting the landscape.

If boating or sailing is more your speed, you have options in area marinas, too. The village also offers up places to kayak and paddle board. Walking paths, hiking trails and sidewalks make it easy

A vital part of the Cape Cod community for more than 20 years, the Cotuit Center for the Arts provides a place of artistic celebration, from performances and exhibitions to educational programming. First founded in the mid 1990s, the center more recently moved into a new facility, with dozens of art exhibitions and concerts plus numerous theatrical productions to its credit.

Along with all of this, the arts center has also served the community with several years of workshops and year-round classes in both the performing arts and the visual arts. Just this year alone the center booked several theatrical productions, with 11 productions planned at the Black Box Theater.

One of the most anticipated productions is Mary Poppins, showing from late November

One of the best reasons to come to Cape Cod isn’t necessarily for what you’ll see, but rather what you’ll experience. More specifically, what you’ll taste. Enjoyed for generations, Cotuit oysters are a true favorite on the Cape, and also well beyond its waters.

Now one of the oldest brand-named oysters in the entire nation, the Cotuit Oyster Company has been farming Cotuit oysters on Cotuit Bay for more than 150 years. They’re distinct, the company claims, due to their sweet and briny flavor, which certainly sets them apart from almost any other oyster in the world.

In fact, it’s said this particular type of oyster is not only simply known across the world, but in demand across the globe. The flavor likely comes due to the location in which the oysters

With a rich history dating back to the late 1800s, the Wianno Club is a true Osterville historic landmark. Now the site of frequent gatherings, celebrations and even weddings, the club celebrates more than a century overlooking Nantucket Sound and even has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Cotocheset House, now the main clubhouse of the Wianno Club, sits on land once purchased by Plymouth settlers from the Native Americans, later used as the site of a grand summer hotel for wealthy vacationers. While modernized over the years, the charm of yesteryear is still evident at the Wianno Club. After all, the private and seasonal member-owned club has served its guests for a period that now spans four generations.

Members of the Wianno